The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) has officially launched its maiden Green Border Day at the Seme Border in Lagos State, marking a significant milestone in its nationwide campaign for environmental sustainability and community empowerment.

Held under the theme “Our Borders, Our People, Greening Communities for a Sustainable Future,” the event brought together officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), climate advocacy groups, border community leaders, youth volunteers, and other stakeholders in what organisers described as a “collective action towards a cleaner, greener Nigeria.”

In a statement issued after the event, COWA National President, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, said the initiative is part of a nationwide campaign designed to promote climate consciousness, improve border-area sanitation, and empower women and youths through green skills.

In a statement after the launch, COWA National President, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, said the initiative builds on the outcomes of the recently concluded COWA Green Borders and Sustainability Summit in Abuja.

The association unveiled plans for a COWA Sustainability and Innovation Centre, a national hub to support climate education, recycling, and green entrepreneurship.

She said, “What began in Abuja as an idea has now taken shape in Seme. Through this initiative, we aim to plant over 5,000 trees, train 1,000 women and youths in recycling and green enterprise, and set up solar-powered eco-hubs across border communities.”

Activities at the Seme launch included tree planting, community clean-ups, waste-sorting demonstrations, and recycling training sessions.

In the same vein, market women and youths all participated in what organisers described as a symbolic commitment to sustaining the project through monthly “Clean Border Days.”

Mrs Adeniyi commended the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), and other partners for supporting what she called a “community-driven pathway to environmental responsibility.”

She also disclosed that COWA will present the Green Borders initiative on the global stage during COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where the association will host a Side Event on 17 November 2025 at the Nigerian Pavilion.

She added, “We are taking the story of COWA’s Green Borders Sustainability Initiative to the world. Border communities are not only centres of trade; they are also frontline environments in need of protection, and Nigerian women are leading this transformation.”

The Green Border Day, according to Mrs Adeniyi, will continue in border locations across the country over the next year, including Idiroko, Jibia, Illela, Maigatari, Mfum, and Calabar.

She added: “The programme will culminate in the publication of a National Green Borders Impact Report and the commissioning of the new Sustainability and Innovation Centre during COWA’s next national summit.”

In her address, the Chairperson of COWA Ogun I Command, Mrs Fausat Otunla, appreciated the National President for championing such an innovative programme.

Also speaking, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, described the event as a vital platform for promoting the welfare of border communities while reinforcing the Customs Service’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

He said: “We are inspired by our leader’s campaign and appreciate her guidance and continuous support for COWA activities nationwide. I also want to commend my husband, the CAC, and his management team for their unwavering support for women’s empowerment.

“The Green Border Initiative aligns with global and national calls for environmental responsibility. Here at Ogun I Command, we are committed to balancing trade facilitation, border security, and environmental preservation.”

The ceremony also featured goodwill messages from sister agencies, while the COWA National President personally planted trees in support of the initiative, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to creating a cleaner and more sustainable environment.